COMMUNITY
Farm-to-School
Connecting local farms with schools to provide fresh, nutritious food and agricultural education to students.
School Garden Initiative
Lafayette Parish
Sponsored by the Lafayette Parish Master Gardener Association, Lafayette 4-H Club, and LSU AgCenter
Program Objectives
Academic Enhancement
Augment and complement traditional classroom studies in Science, English and Mathematics through hands-on instruction of gardening and the plant life cycle.
Environmental Awareness
Cultivate a greater awareness for the environment within all participants and foster sustainable practices.
Gardening Basics
Teach the fundamentals of preparing soil, planting seeds, setting plants, caring for and harvesting plants.
Passion for Learning
Grow kids' passion for learning, success and serving their community through a unique gardening education.
Program Benefits
Academic Benefits
Data has indicated that the gardens were used to enhance the student’s academic leaning, it promoted the learning through social and recreational experiences;
Teambuilding Skills
Data shows gardening has helped teach students the benefits of working together as a group to achieve a common goal and how cooperation can lead to the development of critical thinking and problem solving;
Health & Nutrition
This is among one of the most important factors in America as well as in Louisiana due to the increase in obesity. Research indicates that children have made significant improvements in vegetable preferences due to gardening;
Green Space
A push for increased “green space” has been a re-occurring issue in the United States since World War I. This is extremely important especially in suburban and urban areas across America.
Community Engagement
This has been linked to improvement in grades and attitude of students regardless if it is their parent or guardian, a community leader, or a mentor involved or volunteering with the garden;
Educational Opportunities
Provides hands-on learning about nutrition, exercise, and environmental awareness throughout the school year.
Student Participation
Throughout the school year, students participate in the entire development of the garden as well as a service component. They are part of the decision-making process as it relates to basic gardening, preparing the soil, choosing crops, planting seeds, weeding and harvesting. The harvest has been used for healthy food demonstrations and sent home for participant families. Youth are taught lessons in the area of improving nutritional choices, exercise and increase their awareness.
Updated: January 2018
School Garden Initiative
Act 404 - Louisiana Farm-to-School Program
This Act requires the Board of Elementary & Secondary Education and the Department of Agriculture & Forestry to develop and implement a farm-to-school program to be administered by the state Department of Education. The bill was passed with an overwhelming vote of 35-0 in the Senate and 85-0 in the House.
Although a large task, it is exciting to see the State of Louisiana support this initiative for local, healthy foods in schools. This landmark legislation demonstrates the state's commitment to connecting students with local agriculture and nutrition.
Next Steps
Currently, Farm-to-School members are working to bring this new state law into realization. The goals include:
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Encourage connection between schools and local farmers through the use of a farm and crop inventory across the state, by region
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Simplify the purchasing process between schools and farmers by disseminating specific farm to school guidelines to clarify contracting, school food safety and liability insurance requirements
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Support efforts to ensure schools have proper equipment to prepare and process fresh food onsite
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Integrate farm to school in the classroom through hands-on activities related to agriculture, food, health, and nutrition such as farm visits, cooking demonstrations, taste tests, and school gardening programs
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Develop a Louisiana Farm to School Handbook to provide guidance and resources to schools and farmers for program success
Updated: January 2018
Get Involved in Farm-to-School
Whether you're a farmer, educator, school administrator, or community member, there are many ways to support this important initiative.